Site description A 20-km-strip along the Mediterranean coast, from Atlit south to the Taninim River Nature Reserve. The site includes the Atlit saltpans (8 km south of Haifa) and a large complex of fish-ponds at Ma'agan Mikhael and Ma'ayan Zvi, c.25 km north of Netanya, as well as some small islands off Ma'agan Mikhael.

Key Biodiversity See boxes for key species. Breeding birds include five species of heron and egret and Plegadis falcinellus. The Atlit saltpans hold the only colony of Sterna albifrons in Israel. Good numbers of many waterbird species winter, when up to 55 Circus aeruginosus are also present. Large flocks of Pelecanus onocrotalus occur on passage.